Archive for 'Localities'

Lazing away on a beach is not quite everyone's idea of a perfect holiday, some prefer to remain active, not allow fitness slip and to venture out and see more of the area that they are visiting. If you happen to fall into the above category, you might consider finding a luxury villa in Chianti and heading over for the Chianti Eco-marathon in 2016. This annual event combines several aspects which are appealing to proud locals and visitors alike – the beautiful Tuscan landscape, nature, sport, running and food. Taking place in the second half of October, there are several different levels and types of trails so that you can find the perfect one for your level of fitness or holiday preferences.

Ridley Scott’s Academy-Award winning, "Gladiator" is one of the most iconic films to come out in the past twenty years. Though set in Rome, the movie was filmed in England, Morocco and Malta with reconstructions of Ancient Roman cities and sights made specially for the production. However, two of the key scenes from the film were actually filmed in the Orcia Valley in Tuscany. This beautiful and serene landscape which has inspired poets and artists alike for thousands of years was the perfect setting for idyllic scenes that contrasted the chaos and violence of the gladiatorial battles of the film.

Florence has been home or setting to many novels, films and television shows in the past and continues to inspire the world's writers and creators today. One such writer is Thomas Harris who made Florence one of the locations in his famous tales of Hannibal Lecter which then went on to be adapted into an immensely popular series of movies. In the movie, “The Silence of The Lambs,” Florence is first visible through a sketch done by Lecter which is on display in the prison cell in which he is being held in Memphis. It depicts the skyline over the city as seen from Forte Belvedere.

One of the things that Tuscany is most well known for is its distinctive and stunning landscape which appeared prominently in the works of Renaissance masters such as Leonardo da Vinci. It might seem unusual but unsurprising, then, that Tuscany has its own Landscape Museum. Located in the city of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern area of Chianti Classico near Siena, the Landscape Museum records, illustrates and celebrates the beautiful landscape of Tuscany. Find yourself a villa with pool in Castelnuovo Berardenga and you can explore this historic city and its unique landscape museum!

Once you've found a luxury villa in Lucca and are headed there on a holiday, it might be tempting to stay within the Baroque walls of the beautiful city, especially as there is so much to see, despite its relatively small size. However, venturing beyond these walls is well worth it – not only for the stunning Tuscan landscape which surrounds but also for the villas on the outskirts of Lucca. These buildings were originally largely the summer homes of influential merchants. With frescoed interiors, sumptuous architectural detail and stunning gardens with waterworks ahead of their time, these villas are a treat to the senses, pleasant ventures into the past and historical and artistic gems. One particularly beautiful example is Villa Torrigiani.